Apparatus for producing alpha composite reenforced sheet



1933- w. R. COLLINGS ET AL 1,923,710

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A COMPOSITE REENFORCED SHEET Filed March 19, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS Donald L. Gibb ATTORNEY 7 William R. (allinym 22 a EEEE: Q

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 OOQOOWMOOOJOLQWVE W. R. COLLINGS El AL Filed March 19, 1930 Aug. 22, 1933.

AFPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A COMPOSITE REENFORCED SHEET INVENTORS L LKUJ/m. 'w /ILZJ BY Sana/M ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 22, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A COMPOSITE REENFORCED SHEET Application March 19, 1930. Serial No. 436,936

1'7 Claims.

The present invention relates to paper reenforcing machines, and more particularly to that type of such machines wherein paper fabric is strengthened by means of crossed diagonally laid grouped fibres, yarn strands or threads of textile or other material.

Numerous attempts haveheretofore been made to provide a machine which would assemble a composite reenforced sheet having diagonally laid reenforcing threads crossing each other in unwoven manner. Most common among such machines are those having a rotating spool creel and a rotating yarn guide for laying the yarn strands transversely of the fabric to be reenforced (Pember et al U. S. Patent No. 285,838). A still different type of machine used for a similar purpose (Howard U. S. Patent No. 1,211,851), has a stationary yarn creel which supplies yarn strands to a series of swinging arms that carry the strands back and forth across the sheet to be reenforced, the yarn strands being hooked over pegs on carrier chains at opposite sides of the sheet, such chains moving horizontally in unison with the sheet and having pegs rising vertically to receive the yarn and then carrying it past the squeezing rolls to a trimmer that cuts off the yarn loops at the edge of the paper. The first of these methods normally produces a reenforced sheet having the reenforcing strands laid with non-uniform spacing and in curved paths which results in a product of non-uniform strength. The second type machine on the other hand is very complex in its movements as well as in the method of hooking the reenforcing strands over pegs or the like on moving carriers, it being noted also that there is a certain loss of reenforcing material due to the trimming operation which follows.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a stationary creel type machine for producing a composite sheet reenforced in diamond like pattern with substantially parallel reenforcing strands laid diagonally in two layers one over the other in unwoven manner, such machine further applying the transverse reenforcing nexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain means and modes of carrying out the invention, such disclosed means and modes illustrating, however, but several of various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:,

Fig. l is a diagrammatic general assembly view, in perspective, of a preferred form of our fabric reenforcing machine; Fig. 2 is a section of the machine in the plane indicated by line 22 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the central portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig.4 illustrates one type of reenforced sheet produced by the machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 illustrates a still difierent type of reenforced sheet which may be produced by the same machine.

In carrying the invention into practical effect, one of the component sheets of the material to be reenforced, which for convenience will be referred to as paper, is taken from a roll or other supply and coated on one side with adhesive, preferably of pitch type which may be applied hot. The pitch coated sheet is then passed longitudinally through the reenforcing machine where the reenforcing yarns, threads, cords, or the like, which for convenience will be hereinafter referred to as yarn, are taken from a source of supply and carried back and forth across the pitch coated face of the longitudinally moving sheet. Each of the so supplied yarn strands passes under a cross roller (one of a series), each said roller normally receiving not to exceed five yarns strands which it presses into the pitch layer where the yarn is then held both adhesively and by subsequent cross rollers which it passes under. Afterpassing the yarn applying mechanism, the sheet now carrying the yarn strands in unwoven diamond pattern is brought into contact with a second sheet of paper coated with hotpitch and the whole, with adhesive coated faces adjacent, is passed through a squeezing device which seals them together into a composite reenforced sheet.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 2 is a roll of paper adjustable endwise for lining up, said roll also being provided with any suitable' tension device (not shown) to keep the paper tight while being drawn from the roll. The paper 1 passes from roll 2 to a group of three steam heated driven rolls 3, 4, and 5, 3 and 4 acting to feed the paper from supply roll 2 while roll 4 runs in contact with roll 5, which transfers adhesive thereto from tank 6, which also is steam heated to facilitate fiow of adhesive, where the adhesive used becomes less viscous upon heating.-

'above the other, in unwoven manner.

Sheet 1 having adhesive applied to one face, then passes into cooling chamber 7 with adhesivecoated face up. Cooling chamber 7 is supplied with a cooling medium, for instance air, supplied by means of a conveniently driven fan 8 through connecting pipe 9. Sheet 1, having its adhesive coating, for instance pitch, cooled to a point where it is substantially non-sticky to a rolling surface contacting therewith but sticky to yarn pressed thereon passes under idler roll 10 with pitch-coated face in contact therewith. The sheet then passes between a series of approximately parallel rollers 11 and 12 (Fig. 3), which may be in a straight line as shown or on a curve, and after leaving the same is brought in contact with pitch-coated sheet 13, passing around idler roll 14 so that its pitch-coated face coincides with that of sheet 1. Sheet 1, while passing be tween rollers 11 and 12 with pitch-coated face up, has reenforcing yarns applied thereto in diamond like pattern in two diagonal layers, one Yarn from spools or other convenient supply 15 (Fig. 1) is drawn through a guide piece 16 containing guide bushings 20 for guiding the yarn strands. The yarn then passes over roll 17 which may be an idler but is preferably driven in any convenient manner at a speed slightly in excess of the yarn speed. The yarn strands then pass through guide eyelets 18 and 19 (Fig. 2) mounted on carriage 21, from whence the yarn passes under rolls 12 (Fig. 3), one yarn under each roll, which rolls press it into the pitch-coated face of sheet 1, passing thereunder longitudinally of the machine. Carriage 21 is mounted on tracks or guides 22 by means of suitable wheels or other means 23. It is thus seen that the carriage 21 is arranged to travel crosswise of the machine on guides 22. However, in order to correlate the cross travel of carriage 21 in unison with the rate of travel of sheet 1, arm or bar 24 fastened in suitable manner to carriage 21 (Fig. 1) is connected at its free end to a suitable drive capable of making carriage 21 travel back and forth across sheet 1 in substantially uniform manner. This drive, for instance, may consist of a drive chain 25 having a suitable connection 26 between such chain and arm 24. By driving chain 25 at uniform speed the carriage 21 is caused to travel back and forth at like speed due to its connection to chain 25 through arm 24 and connector 26, such travel preferably being slightly less than the width of the sheet being reenforced. It will thus be seen that where the reenforcing yarns are to be laid at an angle of approximately 45 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, it will only be necessary for the carriage 21 to make one complete trip across and back while paper sheet 1 is traveling a distance equal approximately to twice its width, it being noted, of course, that the distance on the carriage from outside yarn to outside yarn should be approximately twice the width of the paper to be reenforced.

Sheet 13 is drawn from endwise adjustable supply roll 29 having a suitable tension device (not shown) to keep the paper tight while being drawn therefrom. Sheet 13 then passes to a group of three steam jacketed driven rolls 30, 31, and 32. Rolls 30 and 31 act to feed the paper from roll 29, while roll 31 runs in contact with roll 32 which transfers adhesive (pitch) thereto from steam heated supply tank 33. Hot pitch-coated sheet 13 then passes around idler roll 14 which brings it in contact with sheet 1 carrying the diamond like pattern diagonally laid. reenforcing yarn.

Pitch-coated sheets 13 and 1 (Fig. 3) with reenforcement therebetween then pass over a heater 40 where the cold pitch on sheet 1 is softened following which the whole is delivered to squeezing rollers 27 and 28 which seal them together into a composite sheet. While this heater can be omitted from the machine we have found that its use, particularly when the surface in contact with the paper is ribbed spreader fashion to remove wrinkles from the under sheet, aids in producing a uniform and satisfactory product. In order to make sheet 1, which is coated with pitch, a little more pliable so as to effect a better union when passing between squeezing rolls 27 and 28, it is preferable to moisten the under side of sheet 1, for instance by applying water to roll 28 from water supply tank 34, by means of roll 35 which may be driven at the same peripheral speed as roll 28. The so assembled reenforced sheet leaves squeezing rolls 2'! and 28, which are driven in any suitable manner at the proper rate of speed, and passes to a point of usage, or if desired, to windup roll 36 which may be hand operated or power driven in any suitable manner.

Where the reenforced sheet is desired in the form shown in Fig. 5 it is only necessary to insert an additional series of guide eyelets 37 directly in the path of travel of the series of guide eyelets 19, it being noted that the passage of a yarn strand through guide eyelet 37 simultaneously with the passage of a similar yarn strand through guide eyelet 19, both of which deliver the yarn between the same pair of rollers, automatically forms the type of reenforcement shown in Fig. 5 which for convenience may be termed as reenfo'rcement placed in shingle formation. The distance between guide eyelets 19 and 37 will determine the exposure or extent of step back in the shingle effect along the edge of the sheet. This type of construction is of special advantage where the reenforced sheet is to be tubed with the shingled edges being brought together to form the seam of thetube. It further presents the advantage of enabling the yarn strands to be placed twice as close together as would be the case with the same apparatus having only one series of guide eyelets, for instance 19. It is further to be noted that our invention is not limited to one or two strands placed in this manner but that several strands can be passed vunder the same roller and make a corresponding number of steps in the shingle formation of the reinforcing yarns. The back and forth motion of carriage 21 may be accomplished in a number of different ways, one preferred form of which is illustrated. The carriage might be driven by means of a pair of chains, one for each side of the carriage, or in some cases it might even be satisfactory to accomplish the back and forth movement by means of a cam. It is to be noted in this connection that if a quick return or change of direction of the yarn at the edge of the sheet being reenforced is desired, the sprockets 38 should be kept as small as possible. Since a uniform back and forth movement of the carriage together with a uniform feed of paper is necessary for the production of a uniform product we prefer to drive the entire apparatus froma single source of power, for instance by means of a suitable drive to pulley 39.

While we have shown sheet 1 as passing down inclined cooler 7 and under idler roll 10, we do not wish to be limited to that exact construction, since it is merely a matter of convenience whether such inclined passage is used or whether the paper is passed in a straight line to and between rolls 11 and 12, and it is further to be noted that the 1 paper may pass to rolls 11 and 12 from a lower elevation. Either the same level or lower elevation will make the use of roll 10 unnecessary. It is further to be noted that the reduction of stickiness of the adhesive maybe accomplished by other means than circulating air through cooling chamber 7. For instance, by sufiiciently increasing the span between rolls 3 and 10, the adhesive will be given time enough to dry or cool to the desired stickiness. After passing adhesive-coated sheet 1 between rolls 11 and 12 where the reenforcing yarn is applied, sheet 13 is brought into contact therewith and the whole passed between squeezing rolls 27 and 28, one of the rolls preferably being made with a soft or rubber covered surface which will squeeze the paper into intimate contact with the other sheet and. form a good seal around the yarn strands and leave the opposite side of the sheet smooth for printing. In case it is not essential to have one side smooth forprinting, both rolls may be made with rubber covered surfaces. However, to facilitate the squeezing, the back of sheet 1 is moistened to reduce its resiliency and tendency to pull away from the opposite sheet when the squeezing pressure (roll 28 being rubber covered) is removed. In some cases it may be desirable to moisten the back of sheet 13 or even the backs of both sheets 1 and 13 depending upon the conditions at hand. The moistening may be done by means of a wet roller, sprays or other moistening apparatus. Preferably where crepe paper is used the moistening should take place as close to the squeezing operation as possible to avoid stretching or removal of the crinkles in the paper. We accordingly prefer when using crepe paper to moisten it by direct application of water to squeezing roll 28 which immediately squeezes the sheets into a composite form.

While our machine has been described in terms of placing the reinforcing yarn strands at an angle of 45 from the edge, we do not wish to be limited to that exact form, since it is obvious to anyone skilled in the art that a change in ratio of speed of the paper through the apparatus to the carriage travel will change the angle. It is further to be noted in this connection that different widths of paper can be reenforced, it being only necessary to change the carriage travel so that it coincides with the width of the paper and at the same time supply the yarn in proper amount and number of strands to meet the new condition.

We further do not wish to be limited to applying pitch to both sheets since it would be obvious to anyone familiar with the art that the composite reenforced sheet could be formed by coating only one sheet with a suitable amount of pitch and then assembling and squeezing. We have further found it possible to lay the yarn strands in unwoven diamond pattern on a non-adhesive coated sheet passing through the machine, adhesive being subsequently applied together with a second sheet and the whole pressed into the desired form.

Other modes of applying the principle of our invention, may be employed instead of those explained, change being made as regards the means and steps herein disclosed, provided those stated by any of the following claims or their equivalent be employed.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding material to be reenforced, reenforcing-strand-presenting means moving to and fro in a substantially straight line for taking a plurality of reenforcing strands from a source of supply and guiding all of them back and forth across the path of said material substantially from edge to edge thereof, means along said path of back and forth travel of the reenforcing-strand-presenting means arranged ahead of the final consolidating means to continuously receive and hold the strands in intimate contact with the material being reenforced.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding material to be reenforced with an unwoven fabric layer consisting of a series of strands of spun yarn diagonally laid in two plies crossing each other, means moving to and fro in a substantially straight line for simultaneously carrying a plurality of said reenforcing yarn strands across the material to be reenforced, and means ahead of the final consolidating means arranged parallel to the path of said yarn carrying means adapted to continuously receive and press the yarn strands into intimate contact with the material to be reenforced.

3. In a fabric reenforcing machine, the combination of means for guiding and feeding the fabric longitudinally of the machine, a carrier mechanism moving to and fro in a substantially straight line for guiding a plurality of yarn strands from a source of supply and delivering them continuously into intimate contact with the fabric being reenforced each yarn strand reaching substantially from edge to edge thereof before reversing its direction, and a plurality of roller means adapted to continuously receive said yarn strands and directly press and hold them in intimate contact with the fabric as it passes longitudinally through the machine to the final consolidating means.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding an adhesive coated material to be reenforced with an unwoven fabric layer consisting of a series of strands all diagonally laid just short of edge to edge thereof in two plies crossing each other, means moving to and fro in a substantially straight line for simultaneously carrying a plurality of said reenforcing strands across and just short of edge to edge of the material to be reenforced, and means arranged transverse the material to be reenforced which continuously receives said yarn strands and directly presses and holds them in contact with the adhesive coated face of the material as it passes to the final consolidating means.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding an adhesive coated material to be reenforced with an unwoven fabric layer consisting of a series of strands of spun yarn diagonally laid in two plies crossing each other, means moving to and fro in a substantially straight line for simultaneously carrying a plurality of said reenforcing yarn strands across the material to be reenforced, each of said reenforcing yarn strands being laid across said material up to a narrow margin at each edge thereof which is left free from said yarn strands, and means arranged transverse the material to be reenforced which continuously receives said yarn strands and directly presses and holds them in contact with the adhesive coated face of the material as it passes to the final consolidating means.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding material to be reenforced with an unwoven fabric layer consisting of a series of strands of spun yarn all diagonally laid nearly edge to edge of said material in two plies crossing each other, a mechanism for applying adhesive to one face of said material, means for reducing the stickiness of the adhesive, means moving to and fro in a substantially straight line for simultaneously carrying a plurality of reenforcing yarn strands across the material to be reenforced, and means arranged transverse the material to be reenforced which continuously receives, presses, and holds the yarn strands in intimate contact with the adhesive coated face thereof prior to passage of same through the final consolidating means.

'7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding material to be reenforced with an unwoven fabric layer consisting of a series of strands of spun yarn all diagonally laid substantially edge to edge of said material in two plies crossing each other, a mechanism for applying adhesive to one face of said material, means for reducing the stickiness of the adhesive, means moving to and fro in a substantially straight line for simultaneously guiding a plurality of reenforcing yarn strands across the material to be reenforced, and a plurality of roller means arranged transverse the material to be reenforced which continuously receive, press, and hold the yarn strands in intimate contact with the adhesive coated face thereof prior to application of final consolidation pressure thereto.

8. In a paper reenforcing machine, the combination of means for feeding paper to be reena forced with an unwoven fabric layer consisting of a series of strands of spun yarn diagonally laid substantially from edge to edge thereof in two plies crossing each other, a mechanism for applying pitch to one face of the paper, a cooling means to reduce the stickiness thereof, a carriage for simultaneously guiding a plurality of reenforcing yarn strands substantially across the material to be reenforced, and a plurality of rollers arranged to continuously receive, press, and hold the yarn strands in intimate adhesive contact with the pitch coated face of the paper sheet being reenforced prior to passage of same through the final consolidating means.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding material to be reenforced with an unwoven fabric layer consisting of a series of strands of spun yarn diagonally laid in two plies crossing each other, means for simultaneously drawing a plurality of said reenforcing yarn strands from a stationary yarn creel, means moving to and fro in a substantially straight line for guiding them across the material to be reenforced, each of said reenforcing yarn strands being laid across said material so as to leave a narrow margin at each edge thereof which is free from said yarn strands, and means arranged parallel to the path of said yarn guiding means adapted to continuously receive and press the yarn strands into intimate contact with the material to be reenforced prior to application of final consolidation pressure thereto.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding an adhesive coated material to be reenforced with an unwoven fabric layer consisting of a series of strands of spun yarn all diagonally laid nearly edge to edge of said material in two plies crossing each other, means for simultaneously drawing a plurality of said reenforcing yarn strands from a stationary yarn creel, means moving to and fro in a substantially straight line for guiding all of them meagre just short of completely across the adhesive coated face of the material to be reenforced, and means arranged parallel to the path of said yarn guiding means adapted to continuously receive and press the yarn strands into intimate contact with the adhesive coated face of the material to be reenforced while same is passing to the final consolidating means.

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding an adhesive coated material to be reenforced with an unwoven fabric layer consisting of a series of strands of spun yarn diagonally laid in two plies crossing each other, means for reducing the stickiness of the adhesive, means for simultaneously drawing a plurality of said reenforcing yarn strands from a stationary yarn creel, means for guiding all of them across from side to side of the adhesive coated face of the material to be reenforced, and means arranged parallel to the path of said yarn guiding means adapted to continuously receive and press the yarn strands into intimate contact with the adhesive coated face of the material to be reenforced prior to the passage of same through the final consolidating means.

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding an adhesive coated material to be reenforced with an unwoven fabric layer consisting of a series of strands of spun yarn diagonally laid in two plies crossing each other, a carriage means with guide eyelets for simultaneously guiding a plurality of said reenforcing yarn strands from a stationary yarn creel across from side to side of the adhesive coated face of the material to be reenforced, and a series of rollers extending across said adhesive c'oated material adapted to continuously receive the yarn strands from the carriage means and hold and press them into intimate contact with the adhesive coated face thereof prior to the passage of same through the final consolidating means.

13. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for feeding the material to be reenforced, a roller type mechanism for applying adhesive to one face of the material, means to reduce the stickiness of said adhesive, a carriage for simultaneously guiding a plurality of reenforcing strands across from side to side of the material, a plurality of rollers in two series one above the other arranged to continuously receive, press and hold the reenforcing strands in contact with the adhesive coated face of the material to be reenforced prior to applying final squeezing pressure thereto, a roller type mechanism for applying adhesive to one face of a second sheet of material, means for bringing the two sheets together with adhesive coated faces adjacent and reenforcing material therebetween, and squeezing means adapted to press the entire assembly into a composite reenforced sheet.

14. In a paper reenforcing machine, the combination of means for feeding paper to be reenforced with an unwoven fabric layer consisting of a series of strands of spun yarn diagonally laid in two plies crossing each other, a mechanism for applying pitch to one face thereof, a cooling means to reduce the stickiness of the pitch, a carriage for simultaneously carrying a plurality of reenforcing yarn s rands across the material to be reenforced, a plurality of rollers arranged to continuously receive, press, and hold the yarn strands in intimate adhesive contact with the pitch coated face of the paper sheet being reenforced prior to applying final squeezing pressure thereto, means for coating one face of a second sheet of paper with pitch, means for bringing the two sheets together with pitch coated faces adjacent and diagonally laid reenforcing material therebetween, and squeezing means adapted to press the entire assembly into a composite reenforced sheet.

15. In a paper reenforcing machine, the combination of means for feeding paper to be reenforced with an unwoven fabric layer consisting of a series of strands of spun yarn diagonally laid in two plies crossing each other, a mechanism for applying pitch to one face of the paper, a cooling means to reduce the stickiness thereof, a carriage for simultaneously guiding a plurality of reenforcing yarn strands across the material to be reenforced, a plurality of rollers arranged to continuously receive, press, and hold the yarn strands in intimate adhesive contact with the pitch coated face of the paper sheet being reenforced, means for coating one face of a second sheet of paper with pitch, means for bringing the two sheets together with pitch coated faces adjacent and diagonally laid reenforcing material therebetween, means for warming and removing wrinkles from the yarn carrying sheet, means for moistening the under side of said previously cooled sheet, and squeezing means adapted to press the entire assembly into a composite reenforced sheet.

16. In a paper reenforcing machine, the combination of means for feeding paper to be reenforced with an unwoven fabric layer consisting of a series of strands of spun yarn diagonally laid in two plies crossing each other, a mechanism for applying pitch to one face of the paper, a cooling means to reduce the stickiness thereof, a carriage for simultaneously guiding a plurality of reenforcing yarn strands across the material to be reenforced, a plurality of rollers arranged to continuously receive, press, and hold the yarn strands in intimate adhesive contact with the pitch coated face of the paper sheet being reenforced, means for coating one face of a second sheet of paper with pitch, means for bringing the two sheets together with pitch coated faces adjacent and di agonally laid reenforcing material therebetween, means for removing wrinkles from the yarn carrying sheet, means for moistening the outside surface of at least one of the paper sheets, and squeezing means adapted to press the entire assembly into a composite reenforced sheet.

17. In a paper reenforcing machine, the combination of means for feeding paper to be reenforced with an unwoven fabric layer consisting of a series of strands of spun yarn diagonally laid substantially across the paper sheet in two plies crossing each other, a mechanism for applying pitch to one face of the paper, a cooling means to reduce the stickiness thereof, a carriage having at least one continuous row of guide eyelets approximately twice as long as the paper sheet being reenforced is wide, said carriage being arranged to move to and fro in a substantially straight line for simultaneously guiding a plurality of reenforcing yarn strands across the material to be reenforced, a plurality of rollers arranged to continuously receive, press, and hold the yarn strands in intimate adhesive contact with the pitch coated face of the paper sheet being reenforced, means for coating one face of a second sheet of paper with pitch, means for bringing the sheets together with pitch coated faces adjacent and diagonally laid reenforcing material therebetween, means for removing wrinkles from at least one of the sheets, means for moistening the outside surface of at least one of the paper sheets, and squeezing means adapted to press the entire assembly into a composite reenforced sheet.

WILLIAM R. COLLINGS. DONALD L. GIBB. 

